Work and residence permit

(Assistant) professors are awarded a residence permit immediately. Granting of the permanent residence permit also applies to the spouse and minor children who accompany you under family migration arrangements.

According to current practice, professors who teach at the university are awarded a residence permit immediately. Assistant professors elected by the Board of Governors receive their residence permit at the time of their election. However, the normal provisions for the granting of a residency apply for teaching staff appointed by universities acting under their own authority.

Confirmation of election
The confirmation of your election will normally be received two to three months before your start date by the Department of Human Resources & Sport, which will then request the necessary permits. The department will contact you to help you through the administrative stages of your appointment.

Spouses and minor children Granting of the permanent residence permit also applies to the spouse and minor children who accompany you under family migration arrangements. The same rules apply for foreign spouses and minor children of a professor with Swiss nationality. The residence permit entitles its holder to take up work.

By law, children under the age of 18 are automatically included in their parents’ residence permit.

Life partner Life partners cannot follow automatically and must make their own arrangements regarding residency. However, this is not possible for every nationality. EU/EFTA citizens may be authorized to obtain gainful employment in Switzerland if they can prove that they have been offered a job by a Swiss employer. EU/EFTA citizens may also be granted residency without employment. They must however be able to prove that they have sufficient financial resources to live on.

Nationals of third countries Foreigners from third countries are only authorized to work in Switzerland if they are highly qualified specialists. The Swiss employer must be able to prove that it has not been able to find anyone in Switzerland or the EU to fill the post. The individual may then apply to the Federation for a work permit. Foreigners from third countries are not normally granted residency without employment.